Contacts:
Joint Information Center: JIC@cuyahogacounty.us; 216-443-5245


CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH — Today the Cuyahoga County Board of Health held their media briefing regarding COVID-19 at their offices at 5550 Venture Drive, Parma, Ohio 44130 at 8:45 a.m. The next briefing will take place Wednesday April 8 at 8:45 a.m. The briefings will continue until the COVID-19 situation no longer merits regular messaging.

Below are points discussed by Board of Health Commissioner Terry Allan and Board of Health Medical Director Dr. Heidi Gullett:

Cases

• As of this morning, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cuyahoga County, excluding the City of Cleveland, is 574. The age range of confirmed cases is 1 week of age to 101 years of age. There are 15 deaths in Cuyahoga County to date. The age range of the deaths is 63 to 91 years of age.
• Cuyahoga County data can also be found on the CCBH website.

Face Masks

• Governor DeWine’s office is recommending that Ohioans wear cloth face coverings (masks) when out in public settings, such as the grocery store, pharmacy, or the park. For more information about cloth face coverings, please visit: coronavirus.ohio.gov
• Masks are not a substitute for social distancing. Social distancing practices need to be maintained while wearing a mask.
• Do not use medical supply masks, which must be reserved for healthcare workers, first responders, and people who are known to be sick.
• If you have medical supply masks, such as N95s, please consider donating, even if it is just one or two masks.
• Donations can be made at the Cuyahoga County Public Works garage located at 2501 Harvard Ave. Newburgh Heights, Ohio 44105 Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

CCBH on YouTube

Visit the Cuyahoga County Board of Health’s (CCBH) YouTube channel to access the following videos, including but not limited to:

• An archive of CCBH press briefings
• Interviews with infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci
• Prevention tips from the CDC in both Spanish and American Sign Language.

Governor DeWine’s Saturday, April 4 press conference

• Governor DeWine signed an executive order that will allow Ohioans to more easily access telehealth services from individual counselors, social workers, and marriage and family counselors.
• Usually, a patient must first have a face-to-face meeting with counselors and social workers, and the providers would have to take special training to provide telehealth services.
• The Governor's order will remove those requirements so people can access those services without leaving their homes.

Behavioral Health Services

Dr. Gullett spoke about the importance of managing mental and behavioral health needs during this time.

The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County mental health resources and hotlines:

If you are experiencing stress or anxiety:

• You can call Cuyahoga County's 24-Hour Warmline at 440-886-5950 to talk with a peer
• You can text "4hope" to 741741 to access the crisis text line.

If you are in crisis:

• You can reach the 24-hour Suicide Prevention, Mental Health/Addiction Crisis, Information and Referral Hotline at: 216-623-6888

To access the Cuyahoga County Coronavirus Help Line, call 440-59-COVID (440-592-6843).

For more information from the Board of Health, visit https://www.ccbh.net/.

For information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

For information from the Ohio Department of Health, visit https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/ or call 1-833-4-ASKODH.